On-Farm Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Inoculum in Compost and Vermiculite Mixtures: Results of On-Farm Demonstrations and Impact of Compost Microbiological Quality
https://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=444
Abstract, Journal of the NACAA, 2014
The sustainability and profitability of many agricultural systems can be enhanced through the utilization of inoculum of arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi. Inocula are commercially available, but inoculum can also be produced on-farm in mixtures of compost and vermiculite with a nurse host plant. Demonstration of the on-farm system at a network of cooperating farms produced inocula with an average potency of 297 ± 43 propagules of AM fungi cm-3 (mean ± SEM, n= 40 site years). Spread of colonization in host roots was greater for bacterial- vs. fungal-dominated compost, but compost dilution ratio with vermiculite was a more important determinant of AM fungus spore production than compost type.